Winthrop Poll: South Carolinians split on economic outlook (AUDIO)

The Winthrop Poll has released its latest statewide snapshot of South Carolinians attitudes on topics ranging from the economy to Stephen Colbert. Review poll summary.

And this study is more of a panoramic snapshot, since it polls a sampling of the entire state, not just registered or likely voters. The poll’s director, Winthrop Political Science Professor Scott Huffmon says he tries to measure attitudes and issues by asking open-ended questions.

South Carolinians are split down the middle on their view of the economy; that’s according to results of the latest Winthrop Poll of 878 adults living in the Palmetto State. The poll was taken between January 29 and February 6, with no calling done during Super Bowl Sunday. 46.1 percent of respondents said the economy is getting better, 45.1 percent said it is getting worse. 47.1 percent feel either very strongly, or somewhat strongly, that stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs.

Nearly 60 percent think that the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction. 21.3 percent worried often or sometimes in the past 12 months, that they would not be able to afford to buy food when it ran out. Despite the protracted economic downturn, 58 percent of respondents said they had spent more than two nights away from home on vacation in 2011, with 64.7 percent taking their main vacation outside of South Carolina.

AUDIO: Huffmon discussed this poll’s findings with South Carolina Radio Network’s Ashley Byrd